2021 FREIGHTLINER CASCADIA Complaints

TIRE SIZE: 275/80 R22.5 MICHELIN ENERGY LINE Z Component that failed is the passenger side steer front tire. The inside edge decoupling groove failed. Risks include a potential tire blow resulting in loss of vehicle control. This failure could cause an accident putting others safety at risk. Both Freightliner and Michelin Tire Co. are aware of this failure. Michelin tire representative has visually inspected the tire and asked to have the tire returned to the Michelin Company for further inspection. I have not released the tire to them yet. There are/were no warnings, messages or symptoms of this problem prior to. This truck was built with 4X4X4 front air fairing that was removed after this failure by the request of the Freightliner Corp. The mileage on the tire at the time of failure was, 89,490 miles.

The contact owns a 2021 Freightliner Cascadia equipped with Michelin Tires, Tire Line: X, Tire Size: 275/80/R25.5, DOT Number: (Not Available). The contact stated upon inspecting the tires, he noticed that the decoupling groove was peeling off on the passenger's side front tire. The passenger's side front tire was replaced. The failure mileage was approximately 112,814. The contact stated that the failure reoccurred on the driver's front side tire. The tire was replaced. The failure mileage was approximately 160,375. The contact stated while driving at an undisclosed speed, the front passenger's side tire blew out inadvertently. The driver depressed the brake pedal and stopped the vehicle. The driver was then able to veer to the side of the road with the assistance of the State Police. The tire was replaced on site. The tire failure mileage was 496,000. The vehicle was then taken to the local dealer who replaced the front passenger's side tire with a new tire. The tire manufacturer was notified of the failure and inquired about performing an analysis of the damaged tires. The vehicle manufacturer was notified of the failure. The vehicle failure mileage was approximately 326,168.

I purchased a new P4 through my employers Lease Purchase program, and when I ordered my new truck, I ordered it with the Hendrickson Air-Ride Suspension Package for the front axle, disc brakes front and rear, and a few other options. My truck required 14 all axle alignment’s before it was driving correctly, after destroying both left & right steer tires. One Freightliner dealer set the right front at 7/16” toe-in, after I threatened to bring legal action against the dealership, only to learn three weeks later, the toe-in was set at 7/16”, which destroyed the tire. I personally measured the rear axle alignment with a tape measure to find both drive axles are staggered approximately 1.3” to 1.75” causing my drive tires to wear abnormally fast, forcing me to buy new tires for $7,000+. The worst part is the Hendrickson Air Ride Suspension unit is extremely “sloppy” and noisy when driving and turning at all speeds, constantly making loud “clunking” sounds, which are all felt heavily while hold the steering wheel. Nobody seems to want anything to do with my new truck, and if I get killed while driving my truck, because of faulty manufacturing, at least you have a record of my case to investigate further. I just learned yesterday from another driver, that Freightliner just discovered their trucks with the Hendrickson Air Ride Suspension System option have all been issued a “Service Bulletin” to replace faulty, leaking ride-height control valves which can cause a catastrophic crash by suddenly dropping one or both sides of the front air suspension, causing a sudden swerving condition, which can be catastrophic. My truck cost me $180,000 plus, and I want my monies worth, before I’m killed by faulty craftsmanship. Please investigate this matter, as I know there are many more drivers and owners who are experiencing these same manufacturing defects.

Upon driving this truck for the first time, previous trucks were Kenworth and Peterbilt, it quickly came to my attention that the passenger side door mirror housing blocks drivers view when scanning to the right before entering a roadway. I the affected area extends from the front of the A-pillar to the outside of the mirror housing. When this model was designed the mirror housing that attaches to the door was swept back for asthetic reasons I am guessing. This creates a dangerous situation since a lot of the drivers are placed in this particular model when they first start driving. If I was to purchase this particular model, I would immediately replace the mirror with one that was positioned 90 degrees to the door as both the older Freightliner and the trucks mentioned above are. I am not sure how this particular change was approved unless it was tested in a static environment. Please look into this, but the only way to experience what I am describing is too test it in as close to a real world environment as possible.